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Background Patient- and family-centered care (PFCC) has the potential to address disparities in access and quality of healthcare for African American pediatric asthma patients by accommodating and responding to the individual needs of patients and families. Study Objectives To identify and evaluate research on the impact of family–provider interventions that reflect elements of PFCC on reducing disparities in the provision, access, quality, and use of healthcare services for African American pediatric asthma patients. Methods Electronic searches were conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, and Psyclnfo databases. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed, English-language articles on family–provider interventions that (a) reflected one or more elements of PFCC and (b) addressed healthcare disparities in urban African American pediatric asthma patients (≤18years). Results Thirteen interventions or programs were identified and reviewed. Designs included randomized clinical trials, controlled clinical trials, pre-and post-interventions, and program evaluations. Conclusions Few interventions were identified as explicitly providing PFCC in d pediatric asthma context, possibly because of a Iack of consensus on what constitutes PFCC in practice. Some studies have demonstrated that PFCC improves satisfaction and communication during clinical interactions. More empirical research is needed to understand whether PFCC interventions reduce care disparities and improve the provision, access, and quality of asthma healthcare for urban African American children. Electronic databases used PubMed, CINAHL, and Psyclnfo

In order for children with special health care needs to be adequately cared for, a variety of integrated, coordinated services are needed to support the children and their families. To facilitate optimal coordination of care for these children, it is imperative that the professionals who serve them engage in a partnership of care with parents or other family members. To that end, the Division of Children's Special Health Care Services (DCSHCS), Michigan Department of Public Health has carried out a variety of efforts to foster such partnerships. This article describes the efforts that have been carried out over the last few years in Michigan to develop parent/professional partnerships. It is not intended to be a scholarly review of the literature, but rather an explanation of strategies that have been used successfully to develop this important interface. Particular emphasis is given to describing the establishment of partnerships between parents of children with special health care needs and nurses and physicians. Jt is hoped that the sharing of such information will assist others who are just beginning such efforts.